"What do you do?" is one of the most overused questions in any room and honestly, one of the least interesting. These five ice breaker questions will spark better conversations, skip the dreaded fun fact, and actually help people connect. Try one at your next event and watch the energy shift.

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Sponsorships are the one area of events that seem to have not evolved at conferences, which leaves many brands time and time again regretful they got involved due to minimal ROI. The problem isn't the swag – well it could be – but in reality, it's that sponsorships onsite feel forced; dropped down in the middle of the room, to “table” and wait for their users or hopefuls to engage. 

You've already built the content, the community, and the point of view. Here's how to turn it into an in-person experience worth gathering around, and a vision framework that makes every production decision easier.

Bought a ticket you can't use? Here's what to do — and why notifying the organizer early matters more than you think. Plus: the move most attendees don't know they can make when they have a VIP ticket and can't show up.

You've sat through the hotel ballroom event. Drop ceilings, fluorescent lighting, content that deserved a better room. Now you're planning your own, and you already know you don't want your attendees to feel that way. What you might not know is how much work goes into finding a venue that actually fits your brand, and why getting it right changes everything about your event.

Not all events are created equal. This glossary breaks down 8 types of IRL events, from conferences to pop-ups — so you know exactly which format to host or attend based on your goals.

In this guide, I share a deep-dive into a previous trip to Los Angeles for the Create & Cultivate Festival, and all of the costs associated for flight and hotel, plus all of the things i did around the city.

That $500 conference ticket? The real cost is closer to $2,000. Discover what to look for before you register—from hidden meal costs to transportation surprises—and download our free Attendee Cost Calculator to budget accurately for flights, hotels, food, and extras.

Event lanyards are a necessity to any conference. Here’s what to add to yours to make it a true asset for attendees.

LinkedIn QR codes are polite, not strategic. They capture contact info but not context, and give you no system for follow-up. Discover how to reinvent the business card with HiHello, Zapier, and Notion to actually turn introductions into relationships, complete with the exact setup that makes networking work.

Your best ideas don't happen at your desk…they happen when you break the pattern. Discover why quarterly field trips (museums, live events, hands-on workshops, new neighborhoods) aren't indulgences but infrastructure for staying creatively fed, and how to build a rhythm that keeps your work from feeling recycled.

The shift toward micro-events represents one of the most significant changes in professional gathering in a generation—a blueprint for building deeper relationships with audiences that matter most.

Planning a team retreat? This guide breaks down the six essential elements of unforgettable team retreats, from curating the perfect agenda to securing brand partnerships that save $9K+.

From custom-engraved wine bottles to handcrafted candles, discover thoughtful gift ideas for clients, team members, and community — plus covert tactics for finding the perfect gift.

A remote team that never met in person needed more than connection—they needed operational clarity. See how we transformed scattered workflows into automated systems, then brought the team together for a witchy Halloween retreat at a Michelin Key hotel complete with murder mystery dinner and goddess photoshoots.

Creator Wizard's first in-person event needed to feel effortless—not experimental. See how we transformed their digital education program into a three-day gamified experience in San Antonio, complete with live Pitch Tank finale, laser-printed lattes, sponsor activations at every turn, and gameplay that ran like clockwork from day one.

The Notion community at SXSW needed more than just another side event—they needed a dedicated space to connect. See how we created the first-ever Notion community gathering at South by Southwest, bringing together 150 passionate users for an intimate panel featuring operators from Morning Brew, Curology, and other leading brands, complete with partnerships from Cometeer Coffee and Boys Club, and content that continues to serve the community today.